Mid Cornwall · TR2
Loft Conversions that reads Probus properly
A well-designed loft conversion adds a bedroom, an en-suite and useful storage to homes that were never built with the upper floor in mind — usually inside permitted development and almost always cheaper per square metre than extending sideways. The Probus version of this work has its own character — Probus is a substantial inland village between Truro and St Austell, with the tallest church tower in Cornwall and a Conservation Area covering the village centre, with a building stock that leans toward traditional cob and granite cottages and Edwardian villas.
Probus sits in Mid Cornwall — covering TR2 from Grampound, Ladock, Tresillian outward.
- Conservation Area
- Rural / open-countryside policy area
- ✓ Local to Mid Cornwall — not a national franchise
- ✓ Same team on paper as on site
- ✓ Fixed-fee planning packages, no surprise invoices
- ✓ Measured-survey accuracy from day one
Local watch-list
What usually catches loft conversion projects out in Probus.
Watch #1
Conservation Area material and fenestration controls in central Probus
Watch #2
Tighter Local Plan tests on isolated rural dwellings
Who this is for
Probus runs the full mix — owner-occupier, holiday-let, commercial and the occasional smallholding — so we scope every loft conversion enquiry from the use-class up.
Local context
Why Probus is its own job.
Around Probus (TR2), conservation Area covers the village core including the church. Tregothnan Estate (the largest private estate in Cornwall) lies to the south and shapes some adjacent applications. For loft conversion specifically, parts of Probus sit within a designated Conservation Area, which means materials, fenestration and roof pitches all need to read sympathetically with the existing streetscape; Cornwall Council's Local Plan applies tighter tests to isolated rural dwellings here, so design rationale and policy fit need to be set out clearly from the outset. Reading Probus properly up front saves more time than any drawing tool ever will. Most of our loft conversion work in Probus lands on traditional cob and granite cottages, with detailing that has to nod to the wider Ladock streetscape.
Planning note
Most Cornish loft conversions are permitted development — but a Certificate of Lawfulness is worth the extra week and small fee for resale protection.
What we focus on
Loft Conversions considerations specific to Probus.
01
Stairs eat space — a loft conversion lives or dies by where the new staircase lands and what it costs you on the floor below.
02
Cornish slate roofs come in a huge range of pitches — anything below a 30° pitch struggles to give usable headroom without raising the ridge.
03
Cut-roof Cornish properties are easier to convert than modern trussed roofs; the structural strategy varies completely.
04
Building regs require minimum 2.0 metre headroom over the stairs and 30-minute fire protection on the existing stair enclosure — both shape the design.
Our process
How a Probus loft conversion project runs.
Step 1
Feasibility
Roof, headroom, stair landing and structural assessment.
Step 2
Design
Layout options that respect the staircase, headroom and bathroom positioning.
Step 3
Approvals
Planning or permitted development confirmation, plus building regs.
Step 4
Build
Sequenced to keep the family living downstairs throughout most of the work.
Step 5
Handover
Finish, snag, certify, hand over the keys.
Loft conversions typically run six to eighteen weeks on site depending on type, with four to eight weeks of design and approvals beforehand.
FAQs
Probus Loft Conversions — local questions answered.
- How long does a loft conversion take?
- Allow six to ten weeks on site for a Velux conversion, eight to fourteen weeks for a dormer, twelve to eighteen weeks for hip-to-gable. Add four to eight weeks for design and regs beforehand. In Probus specifically, we'd start by checking the Conservation Area boundary before committing to a direction.
- Will it add value?
- An extra bedroom and bathroom typically adds noticeably more value than the build cost in most Cornish markets — but the value matters less than the daily use you'll get from the space.
- How much does a loft conversion cost?
- A simple Velux conversion starts around £30,000 in Cornwall; a rear dormer with en-suite typically runs £45,000 to £65,000; hip-to-gable and mansards more. Stair location and bathroom complexity drive most of the cost.
- Can I live downstairs while it's built?
- Yes — most loft conversions are built with the family staying in the house. There'll be a couple of disruptive days when the staircase comes through, but the bulk of the work is upstairs.
- Do I need planning permission for a loft conversion?
- Often no — most loft conversions sit inside permitted development on a typical Cornish house. Conservation Areas, AONB and properties on principal elevations need full planning, and we'll confirm at first review.
Local proof — We typically have one or two loft conversion jobs live in the TR2 area at any time, so the local planning officers know our drawings on sight.
Get a free feasibility viewOther services in Probus
Nearby places we cover
If you're considering a loft conversion project in the TR2 area, our deep understanding of Probus's architectural character can help navigate the process smoothly.